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Historic Streetcars in San Francisco

No.351

Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Built 1926 • Awaiting Restoration

While this historic streetcar has not yet operated on San Francisco’s streets, it is included here because of the value it could bring to future generations.
Muni’s erstwhile competitor, Market Street Railway Company, dedicated a special streetcar to taking San Francisco school kids on field trips. That car is still remembered today as the private company’s most successful public relations tool. Today’s nonprofit Market Street Railway purchased a vintage streetcar from a private party in the Bay Area with the idea of reviving this tradition: a ‘Teaching Trolley’ that would mostly run in regular service as part of the core historic fleet, but would be outfitted with teaching aids for school classes and other groups to charter, and to attract families to the city on weekends and in summers.
Car No. 351 itself is a classic American trolley: a 1926 double-end, arch roof steel car from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, of a design virtually identical to cars once operated by the old Market Street Railway Company. It is complete with original rattan seats and wood trim and has received protective preservation by the nonprofit Market Street Railway, which intends to donate the car to Muni once restoration plans have been agreed on. These plans, if realized, could revive an old San Francisco tradition and teach students and their families the value of attractive public transit in building great cities.